Motion-picture apparatus.



W. J. STANGE & L. M. BANNAN.

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-1|, 1915- 13613865. Patented Apr. 9,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

- W] 7 7V E55 155 W. J. STANGE & L. M. BANNAN. MOTlQ-N PICTURE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED o.cT.n. 19|s.

1,261,865. Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- LE] y w.1. STANGE & L. M. BANNAN.

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS.-

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1|. 1915.

INVENTOR.

WALTER J. STANGE AND LEWIS M. BANNAN, 0E SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA,

ASSIGNOBS OF ONE-THIRD T0 ROCKWELL L. STONE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALI- FOBNIA.

FICTION-PICTURE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed October 11, 1915. Serial No. 55,175.

' To all whom it may concern.-

and LEWIS M. BANNAN, citizens of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, (whose post-orifice addresses are, respectively, #37 Montgomery street and #2130 Pierce street, they having assigned one-third interest to Rockwell L. Stone, of the same place,) have invented new and useful improvements in Motion-Picture Apparatus, and more particularly the method of and machines for printing motion-picture'films, of which the following is a specification Among the objects of this invention are:

To provide means for controlling the quantity of light according to the density of the film negative under exposure;

To provide a light control mechanism adjustable to use with the conventional form of lantern and film feed mechanism'a at present combined in motion picture projecting and printing machines.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a printing machine constructed and arranged in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same partially in cross section on the line 22.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged detail of the screen mechanism.

Fig. 4'is a fragmentary detail of the lower end of the 'lock dog engaging the screen lever.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic detail in cross section showing the interrelation of parts of the source of light, the interposed screen, and the aperture plate of the printing machine.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the suction bellows of the pneumatic mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail partially in cross section, of the tracker-board mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a detail top view of the tracker board.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic plan view of a section of'perforated negative passing over the tracker-board, in engagement with the sprockets of the feed mechanism.

Fig. 10 is asimilar .view of the same showing a modified form of negative film.

Fig. 11 is a similar view of the same showing a modified tracker-board and feed mechanism adapted to feed the negative and the pneumatic feed strip in unison.

@ther objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses. In the five sheets of drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification, to which like reference characters have been applied, a simple form of putting this invention into practice is shown. We do not wish to be understood as confining this invention to the disclosures made in said drawings and description, as many variations may be introduced within the spirit of this invention, as defined in the claims succeeding the said description.

The production of ,motion pictures includes three primary steps:

Photographing the action. This first step is often taken in constantly varying conditions of light, involving changing of focus and light stops. The -completed nega tive may comprise short lengths of film taken at difierent times of day, during different atmospheric conditions, under stress of excitement, afiecting the over or under.

exposure of the film, due to the judgment or inadvertence of the camera operator.

These various conditions result in a negative made up of short lengths, that when developed and pasted together in proper sequence, produce a continuous film negative, the various sections of which will vary in density, from extremely transparent underexposed'or over developed sections, to extremely dense over exposed or under developed portions.

The second step in the process is to superimpose the negative over a sensitized film and photographically transfer the impression from the negative to the film, which when properly developed become a positive.

The final step is to feed the positive through the projecting machine, which discloses the action registered on the film, on a suitable screen, in the well known manner.

It is obvious that a positive showing all the imperfections of lighting, described as present on the original negative, would seriously interfere with the quality of the screen production. To overcome this disadvantage it has been the'practice to time the exposure during the printing process, giving more time to the dense portions of the negative in transit through the printing machine, and less time to the more transparentportions of the film. These variations in producing each positive reproduction of the negative renders the process laborious and expensive, and with the closest attention, it is practically impossible to produce duplicate positives of the same light values throughout their lengths. By the means and methods involved in this invention, it is possible for the expert filmprinter to so mark the original negative, according to thi judgment of light values, that every positive produced from that negative will be exact duplicates in the light values throughout their lengths, producing on the screen uniform and consistent lighting, in accordance with the subject being produced; reproducing the judgment of an expert in such matters, permanently impressed upon the original negative, so as to be mechanically reproduced at the minimumof cost and the minimum attention of skilled printers.

In the practice of this invention as stated, the feed mechanism of an ordinary projecting machine may be used, and will hereinafter be called the printing machine. The light from the lantern is focused through a condenser onto the aperture plate of the printing machine, behind which the superimposed negative and film are intermittently fed in the usual manner. The intensity of the light being a given quantity, and for mechanical reasons not easily controlled at its source according to a definite scale, the expedient is adopted of interposing screen units of known density, between the source of light and the negative. These screen units are automatically controlled individually or-in groups,- by perforations or other means registered on the negative.

In detail the construction, illustrated in the drawings include the lantern 1, inclosing some source of light production, preferably electric. The beam of light passes through a condenser fixed in the tube 2 of the lantern. Opposite the lantern and preferably mounted on the same base 3, is the printing mechanism, including the aperture plate 4, mounted upon the frame 5 of the printing mechanism. The aperture plate is set in focal line with the condenser in the tube 2 of the lantern. The printing mechanism includes the film feeding mechanism above and. below the aperture plate, comprising the sprockets 6 and 7 synchronously operated, and engaging the perforations in the edge of the film negative and positive. It is the function of this feed mechanism to maintain a length of slack film between them. This film slack is engaged by the sprocket 8 synchronized with the feed described, but con trolled by a cam and pin, or a Geneva movement 9, indicated in dotted lines be hind the sprocket 8; whereby the intermittent feed mechanism brings each exposure area or negative unit to a dead stop, and framed in the aperture plate opening, in its passage through the printing machine. This intermittent feed mechanism varies in different makes of machines, and applicants do not wish to be understood as confining their invention to any particular mechanism designed to perform that particular function, in the operation of this invention that may be combined with any of the many forms having different characteristics.

The printing machine is operated by the motor 10, the shaft 11 of which is provided with a driving pulley engaging the belt 12 driving the pulley 13 fixed to the counter shaft 1 1, having a smaller pulley fixed thereon engaging the belt 15, driving the larger pulley 16 fixed to the driven shaft 17 of the feed mechanism. This train of belts and pulleys acting as a reduction gear between the motor shaft 11 and the feed shaft 17, maintaining the proper ratio of speed. The negative film X and the positive film Y are unwound from their respective reels X and Y through. the printing machine, and onto their respective reels X and Y". The posi tive film Y, properly sensitized in the usual manner, is brought into contact with the negative X, both of which. have registering perforations X and Y engaging the sprockets 6, 7 and 8 of the feed mechanism; whereby the light projected through the negative X registers a photographic impression of itself on the film Y, in traversing the opening in the aperture plate. It is necessary to protect the film Y against exposure to light, except that projected through the aperture plate. The film is therefore contained in the light proof film shields or boxes Y, Y

and the apertures are also preferablv in-' closed to exclude light, no such means being shown in the drawings, to avoid confusion, such elements being understood as a part of the printing machine.

Attention is directed to the section of the film X, illustrated best in Fig. 9 through which punctures 18, 19, 20 and 21 are made without removing any of the material thereof, leaving a lip projecting beyond the plane of the film but providing an opening through which air may be drawn by the pneumatic mechanism hereinafter described. These various punctures are illustrated as occurring frequently on the film for better description; as a matter of fact they may not occur oftener than once in fifty feet of film, more or less according to variations in the transparency of the film. These punctures coincide with the openings 24, 25, 26 and 27 of the tracker board 30 (see Figs. 7 and 8). To permit the depression of these tongues the tracker board openings are countersunk as at 31.

The openings in the tracker board areconi -ll nected by the flexible tubes 32, 33, 3d and with the collapsible pouches 36, 37', 38 and 39. These various pouches are connected with a manifold vacuum chamber 4:2, connected by the tube 4.3, to the exhaust pump driven by the motor 10, maintaining a constant suction on all of the pouches, until one ot'the punctures in the passes over one the openings in the tracker board; in this event the tongue oi the puncture is sucked downward admitting air to its respective pouch that immediately collapses. The bellows 4:5, maintained in the distende tion by the spring 4b, is connected wt vacuum chamber 42 and sufrlci pacity to permit the sudden colia' si exhaustion of all of the p through. The vibrating 50 of the pouches are respe tively by the cords 52,53, 5% and '55 spective screen levers 57, 58, 59 fulcrumed on the pin b2, fine frames 63 secured on the base 8.

These screen levers project on the opposite side of the fulcrum 62, and are c nnected on one side of the operating pouches by the cords as described. The ends of the screen levers are provided with heads having an incline planes 6% approaching the notch 65. The collapsing of the pouch connec ted to a lever, pulls the lever downward to the horizontal position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. At the completion of this downward movement, the dog 66 pivoted 67, on the bracket 68 mounted on the support 63, rides up the incline 6-1, and the lug 69 lodges in the notch 65, locking the lever in the horizontal position. The dog 66 is pulled backward by the tension of the spring 70, having its opposite end attached to the bracket 68. The opposite end 71 of the screen lever is provided witha frame 72, in which the screen 73 is fixed. When the screen lever is thrown into the operative or horizontal position by the means previously described, the screen 73 is brought into coincidence with the aperture 74 in the aperture plate l, interposing the screen in the beam of light emanating from the lantern 1, focused on the aperture as described. ln the present instance live screens are shown 73, 73 73 ,'.73, and 75. See 5. The first four are of various degrees of opacity, accomplished by the double thickness in the screen 73", the triple thickness of 73, and the quadruple thickness of 73, all oi which may be interposed singly, or in multiples, or simultaneously, to reduce the intensity oit the'light falling upon the aperture. The last screen '35 is preferably of metal or some absolutely opaque substance, and is intended to be operated by the pneumatic mechanism if the film breaks, or the feeding mechanism stops, to prevent the light burning the films.

The negative film X (see Fig. '2), passes by the perfor over the ap ture late 30, around tne roller 77, over the l 78, and meets the film Y,

both passing the feed to chanism in unison, as hereinbefore described. .From

the lower teed sprock t 7 the negative passes --hese various reels are nictionally en h the feed mecliani in her to pay ofi and talre u their the ".45 film. The proper connegative and the aclrer ined by the endless belt een t e negative a the 70, to exer sufficient essure e to insure s clrer the slack of the belt by the roller 80. These varie mounted in the spidc ltet 82 extending o Elome such contac= ble, for the reas in from the tracker hoard rollers es, independent of th aredeorations in the negatl e but to be understood as connning to the particular means shown se, as rollers, or other means t ided for putting tension upon n in ts passage over the tracker board Y8 as shown is preferred at this time, raveling with the negative it minimizes the wear thereon, and may be made of iabric or other pervious material through which air may be drawn through the perforations in the negative. lnasmuch as all of the pneumatic screen operating meclr uni-sins are identical, except as to the duality of their respective screens, the follow description of the operation of the devicewill tie niaxin u r qui anotographic eilect on the positive; such o. :5 portions of the iilrn are not perforated, consequently will not act upon t tic screen control. Portions of t..e in less opaque than the dark portions hus described, it sub ected to the maximum mount of light during the given time of ci-i'oosure, would print too dark upon the positive in contact therewith, presuming such portion the negative to be represented tion 8.. Referring to l ig. 9, the perforations 18 indicates by its transverse location that this is a dense or dark portion of the negative. When this perforation passes over the hole in the tracker board, that is connected by the tube 3 with the pneumatic 36, the latter is collapsed by the admissionof air therein through the perforation 18; The collapse of the pneumatic 36, through its connecting par constant contact m quantity of light to produce 1".

striking the negative.

Portions of the film less dense or dark than those described, call for a greater modification or lessening of the quantit of light projected through the negative, in order to maintain uniform li liting in the result and positives. The per orations 19, 20 and 21,

represent by their transverse locations, graduations in the relative transparency of the negative. Very transparent portions would be perforated as at 21 such portions calling for the interposition of the density of screen as in 7 3, which would be thrown into pos1- tion when the perforation 21 passes over the hole 29 in the tracker board. The perforationsintermediately located in the film, control the intermediate variations of screen, thrown into position by the passage of such perforations over their respectlve holes in the tracker board. Any multiple of the screens may be thrown into operative pos1- tion by grouping the perforatlons 1n the film, for instance in Fig. 9 a group of perforations controlling screens 73, 3 7 3 7 3 are arranged in transverse allnement to simultaneously uncover the holes 1n the tracker board to interpose in the bea nof light all of the screens mentioned, g ving the total maximum reduction of the light. Other combinations of screen control are sufficiently obvious.

When it is desirable to remove one or all of the screens interposed in the light as described, the film is perforated as at 83, uncovering the hole 84 in the tracker board, that controls the pouch 85 connected by the cord 86 to the end 87 of the bell crank lever 88 pivoted at 89. The lever 88 1S duplicated on opposite sides of the frame and connected by the cross bar 90, lying behind the bank of dogs 66. The collapslng of the pneumatic 85 through the connected mechanism, forces the cross bar 90 forward, dislodging the dogs 66 from the notches 65,

permitting all of the screens in the operative position, to drop to the inoperatlveposition illustrated in Fig. 3. The succeeding portions of the negative are perforated in accordance with their transparency as described.

The hole 91 in the tracker board controls the pouch 92, that is directly connected to the bar 93 of the electric switch 94, interposed in the power mains 95 supplying the motor 10 with power; the uncovering of the hole 90 by the perforation 96, opens this switch and stops the motor. The perforation 97 controls the pouch 98, that operates the screen 75, interposing the opaque screen in the beam of light, stopping the process of printing through the negative. When these perforations 96 and 97 occur in unison the whole of the printing operation is stopped. The source of power to the light may be on the same mains 95 that supply the motor, the light would be extinguished simultaneously with the stopping of the motor. It is obvious also that a break in the film would simultaneously uncover all of the holes in the tracker board, shutting down the operation of the whole mechanism that is controlled through the medium of the tracker board.

Perforating the film in the manner described does not materially damage it, but if for any reason it is undesirable thus to mark it, the modified film illustrated in Fig. 10 may be used, as the negative. This'consists of the photographic film Z having a marginal portion Z through which the control punctures Z Z, Z Z", Z and Z are made to operate the pneumatics as described.

A further modification of the film control is illustrated in Fig. 11, in which the feed sprockets are duplicated and a control strip property punctured is passed over the tracker board in unison with the negative passing through the printing machine, to control the pneumaties in accordance with the nature of the portion of the negative coinciding with the perforated portion of said strip.

Having thus described this invention what we claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. A photographic printing machine including a plurality of screens; pneumatically controlled levers for automatically interposing said plurality of screens between the source of light and the negative exposed thereto, said levers operated according to the transparency of said negative.

2. A photographic printing machine including a plurality of screens; pneumatically controlled levers for automatically interposing and withdrawing screens between the source of light and the negative exposed thereto, said levers operated according to mechanical markings on the negative.

3. A photographic printing machine including a source of light; a plurality of screens, means for controlling the intensity of said light by interposing said plurality of screens in series including means governed by passing air through suitably located apertures in a negative exposed thereto.

4. A photographic printing machine including a source of light; a negative; a series of screens; pneumatic means for interposing screens of said series between said light and said negative and including means governed by passing air through suitably placed apertures in said negative for operating said screens.

5. A photographic printing machine including a source of light; a series of screens of difierent densities; a tracker board; and means for independently and collectively operating said screens according to characteristic markings on a film passing said I pass over said tracker board and cooperate with said pneumatics to cause said screen to operate. 7

7 'A photographic printing machine including a source of light; a plurality of pivoted levers; a plurality of screens on said levers; an aperture plate; pneumatics; a tracker board connected with said pneumatics; pneumatically controlled means for interposing said screens between said source of light and said aperture plate; means for raising and locking said levers and means for releasing said levers according to characteristic markings on a film passing said a tracker board.

8. A photographic printing machine including a source of light and a negative exposure mechanism; a series of screens; means for interposing saidseries of screens between said source of light and the ne tive exposure mechanism; and means or controlling said screen operating mechanism according to characteristic markings on a portion of the film negative exposed to the source of light.

9. A photographic printing machine including a source of light; a series of independently operated screens and means for interposing a plurality of said screens before said source of li ht according to characteristic marking on a film passing said source of light. I

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 18th day of September 1915.

' WALTER J. STANGE. LEWIS M. BANNAN.

Witnesses:

BALDWIN VALE, R. S. Smnn. 

